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First posted :
03/24/2008
Times viewed :
344
BizTalk and SQL Server
SQL Server
repositories are common neighbours of BizTalk solutions. Though BizTalk itself
utilizes SQL Server natively, integration with application SQL Server databases
requires additional programming. That is, unless you use the BizTalk
Utilities adapter for databases. This part of the BizTalk
Utilities product suite swiftly
eliminates the need for further development by providing the application logic
required for establishing direct data access connections with SQL Server data
sources.
How it Works
BizTalk
Utilities provides a set of adapter components that establish a two way data exchange
between BizTalk Server and SQL Server databases.
The adapter accomplishes this by introducing three specialized components:
1.
A
specialized Application Integration Component called “SQLAIC”, which utilizes
the Microsoft SQL.NET provider to access SQL Server data sources. By
translating messages from BizTalk Server into Transact SQL statements, it
supports Insert, Update, and Delete actions, as well as the execution of stored
procedures. This AIC is set up using a configuration Wizard. A separate Mapper
Configuration utility is also provided, allowing SQL statements to be mapped to
source BizTalk message documents. Sample screen shots of both utilities are
provided below.
2.
The SQLCommand AIC component offers support for executing single SQL statements that
can add, alter, delete and even return data from SQL Server data sources. Query
results returned to BizTalk are automatically preformatted as XML documents.
Sample screenshots from the configuration utilities used to set up the AIC are
displayed below.
3.
Finally, the
SQL Receive Function introduces the ability for BizTalk Server to periodically
poll SQL Server databases. Polling intervals can be pre-set and can range from
seconds to days. Configuring the Receive Function is easy using the
accompanying Wizard, as illustrated below.
The adapter is further supplemented with Import and Output
Configuration Wizards that allow for configuration settings to be stored and
retrieved from XML documents.
Summary
Enabling
interoperability with Microsoft SQL Server data sources is a must-have
requirement for any serious enterprise-level BizTalk solution. By simply adding
the BizTalk
Utilities adapter for databases to your environment you
automatically enable data access with SQL Server, sparing you significant
development effort.
To learn more about these and other features, download an evaluation copy of BizTalk
Utilities
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